- Title: WEST IRIAN: SORONG DELEGATES VOTE IN ACT OF FREE CHOICE ON COUNTRY'S FUTURE
- Date: 30th July 1969
- Summary: 1. LV SORONG SHORE 0.05 2. GV SORONG HARBOUR (2 SHOTS) 0.13 3. GV WELCOMING CROWD (2 SHOTS) 0.21 4. SV SOLDIERS ON QUAYSIDE (3 SHOTS) 0.30 5. GV SPECTATORS (2 SHOTS) 0.38 6. SV SOLDIERS AMONG CROWD 0.42 7. GV CROWD WALKING TOWARDS BUILDING WHERE SESSION IS HELD 0.45 8. GV & CU DANCERS (3 SHOTS) 0.56 9. SCU ORTIZ SANZ ARRIVES AND ENTERS BUILDING 1.04 10. GV CROWD HOLDING BANNERS 1.09 11. SV INT. COUNCIL MEMBER AT MICROPHONE 1.12 12. SV OTHER MEMBERS 1.15 13. GV COUNCIL MEETING 1.22 Initials PK/VS/PN/MJB Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 14th August 1969 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: SORONG, WEST IRIAN
- Country: Indonesia
- Reuters ID: LVA57IUTMX6QW5OZ6ZFA1WCW7E5H
- Story Text: A UNANIMOUS VOTE TO REMAIN PART OF INDONESIA HAS BEEN LODGED BY 110 REPRESENTATIVES OF THE REGENCY OF SORONG, IN WEST IRIAN -- THE FIFTH REGENCY TO HAVE DONE SO IN THE CURRENT INDONESIA -OR-INDEPENDENCE ISSUE. THE REPRESENTATIVES WERE VOTING LAST SATURDAY (26 JULY) IN THE ACT OF FREE CHOICE TO DECIDE THE FUTURE OF THE COUNTRY.
A BIG CROWD GREETED THE UNITED NATIONS REPRESENTATIVE, DOCTOR FERNANDO ORTIZ SANZ, AND THE INDONESIAN INTERIOR MINISTER, MAJOR AMIR MACHMUD, AS THEY ARRIVED FOR THE IMPORTANT COUNCIL MEETING. ARMED TROOPS MINGLED WITH THE CROWD.
THE ACT OF FREE CHOICE IS MADE BY THE "MUSJAWARAN" METHOD, OR DECISION BY DISCUSSION.
IT FOLLOWS A 1962 AGREEMENT WORKED OUT WITH THE UNITED NATIONS WHEN INDONESIA TOOK OVER THE TERRITORY, FORMERLY THE WESTERN HALF OF NEW GUINEA, FROM THE DUTCH.
EACH OF THE DELEGATES -- MEMBERS OF THE EIGHT REGENCY COUNCILS -- HAS BEEN CHOSEN TO REPRESENT A SECTION OF THE POPULATION BECAUSE THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT FEELS THE ONE-MAN-ONE-VOTE SYSTEM WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE BACKWARDNESS OF THE PEOPLE, THE DIFFICULTY OF TERRAIN AND THE LACK OF COMMUNICATIONS.
THE 110 DELEGATES AT SORONG REPRESENT 85,000 OF WEST IRIAN'S 800,000 POPULATION. SO FAR, 710 OF THE 1,025 DELEGATES HAVE FAVOURED REMAINING WITH INDONESIA. REPRESENTATIVES OF THE REGENCIES HAVE YET TO VOTE.
HOWEVER, THE ACT OF FREE CHOICE IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED EARLY NEXT MONTH, AND PRESIDENT SUHARTO WILL ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS ON AUGUST 16, THE EVE OF INDONESIA'S 24TH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY.
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